Environmentalists Wary

Sierra Club: Better to Expand County Board
Eric Bowlby, The Sierra Club:
A new elected body of politicians is over-kill. I would rather see an expanded Board of Supervisors to 11 members. This would provide comprehensive, regional representation.

The creation of a super-agency with broad land-use authority, including the powers of eminent domain for massive projects such as freeways and airports, is a serious threat to quality of life in many San Diego County communities.

Environmental Health Coalition: Ditto
Diane Takvorian, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition:
Unfortunately, the RGEC recommendations to the Legislature fall far short of creating a truly integrated, consolidated planning approach that will ensure social equity and smart growth as hallmarks of the San Diego region’s future. Environmental Health Coalition calls on the State Legislature to reject the RGEC plan and consider creating an efficient and integrated planning approach using an existing body, the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors should be expanded from the current 5 seats to 11 in order to ensure increased representation for all San Diegans as they take on additional regional duties.

Take Time To Do It Right
Kevin Doyle, Director, National Wildlife Federation, Western Field Office:
The concept of a regional government entity to oversee land use, transportation and other important processes that will determine the future of San Diego is a useful one. Yet the recommendations from the Commission (RGEC) do not appear to offer the best structure for its implementation.

San Diego has a window of opportunity — perhaps more than any other community of its size — to plan for its future - a future that balances achieving a sustainable economy with the real need to protect the natural resources that make San Diego such an incredible place to live and work while being one of the most important regions for biodiversity in North America. Any entity that would be bestowed the responsibility of trying to achieve that balance must therefore be fully accountable to the residents of San Diego and should reflect, in every regard, the diversity of the community.

Paying lip service to smart growth is not enough. True smart growth planning addresses the needs to achieve social and job equity, more affordable housing, and protecting air, water, wildlife and other natural resources. Further analysis should therefore be conducted on other credible proposals that have been brought forth to protect the essence of San Diego - where our environment truly is our economy.